Donating to College Alma Mater

[AXiDTrish]

AXOMom....I never understand when people donate to athletic depts or things like that. I mean, really?

I ALWAYS donate to the scholarship fund. I'd rather send a student to school! As a donor, you should always be able to decide where you money goes. I send a $20 check to State U every January. It's not much, but it's what I can do. A few years ago it was only $10. Alpha Xi Delta on the other hand gets more of my money. I donate to our Foundation, but I support the local level too. It's not tax deductible when I donate to the chapter I advise or my own chapter, but I take comfort in knowing I support nationally as well as locally. And most important....I love my girls!

[AOII Angel]

I haven't given because until recently I considered my alma mater dead. They changed the name of the school a few years after I graduated, and many alums were not happy about it. They had already practically killed our football program, and a few years later had to change our mascot to the Warhawks. The campus is almost unrecognizable. I have given quite a bit to AOII towards paying back a scholarship I received. I am slowly coming around to the idea of paying back my scholarship to ULM, though, now with TOPS in Louisiana, scholarships for merit aren't really necessary. My little state school's budget has been gutted, and any donation I give would be a pittance compared to what is needed...an excuse, I know, but for now I'm committed to endowing scholarships through AOII.

[groovypq]

Considering I'm unemployed thanks to my alma mater... not now. I did give in the past when I was able, especially to my class reunion scholarship fund. ZTA and my chapter get what I can give.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AXiDTrish

AXOMom....I never understand when people donate to athletic depts or things like that. I mean, really?

I ALWAYS donate to the scholarship fund. I'd rather send a student to school! As a donor, you should always be able to decide where you money goes. I send a $20 check to State U every January. It's not much, but it's what I can do. A few years ago it was only $10. Alpha Xi Delta on the other hand gets more of my money. I donate to our Foundation, but I support the local level too. It's not tax deductible when I donate to the chapter I advise or my own chapter, but I take comfort in knowing I support nationally as well as locally. And most important....I love my girls!

At some schools you have to "donate" to the athletic department in order to qualify for season tickets for football. This is how it works at LSU. A minimum donation is needed for each level of tickets. As for bigger donors, they are often former athletes who believe in the mission of the athletic program of their alma mater. It's an expensive endeavor and donors are always needed for stadium upgrades, etc.

ETA: it's the Athletic Foundation not the department directly.

[AXOmom]

Originally Posted by AXiDTrish

AXOMom....I never understand when people donate to athletic depts or things like that. I mean, really?

I ALWAYS donate to the scholarship fund. I'd rather send a student to school! As a donor, you should always be able to decide where you money goes. I send a $20 check to State U every January. It's not much, but it's what I can do. A few years ago it was only $10. Alpha Xi Delta on the other hand gets more of my money. I donate to our Foundation, but I support the local level too. It's not tax deductible when I donate to the chapter I advise or my own chapter, but I take comfort in knowing I support nationally as well as locally. And most important....I love my girls!

Well in all fairness to Uncle Phil, he doesn't just give to the athletic department. He does give generously on the academic side as well (although he gives more to our athletic department). When I said he builds pretty buildings for us - a lot of those are academic buildings that he's either built or remodeled. Some would argue that because he gives so generously to the athletic department - it is one of the few that runs in the black and doesn't pull any money from the school. He also gives A LOT to academics at Stanford.

Beyond that you have guilted me into thinking I should give at least a little something the next time they call. Do you work in fundraising because if not - you should consider it. .

[aephi alum]

I do not donate to my alma mater.

I participated in a five-year bachelor's/master's degree program. During my graduate year, I lived in graduate student housing with my then-fiancé, also a grad student. We didn't have caller ID, but if you got a call from on-campus you heard a double ring, while if you got a call from off campus you heard a single ring.

So he and I are in our apartment one evening when the phone rings - double ring.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Good evening, may I speak to aephi alum?
Me: This is she.
Caller: Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the school's telethon. For a generous donation of $250, you can -
Me: Hold it right there. You called my campus extension, right?
Caller: Yes...
Me: You only dialed five digits, right? You didn't dial 9, right?
Caller: Right...
Me: You therefore KNOW that I live in grad student housing, and am therefore more than likely a GRAD STUDENT. A POOR STARVING GRAD STUDENT. And YOU'RE asking me to fork over two hundred and fifty dollars???
Caller: Um... well, class participation percentage is more important than the dollar amount. You could maybe contribute $100, or...
Me: No.
Caller: Or even $25... or even $10... <sensing a lost cause>
Me: How about zero?!?

And I hung up.

A couple of minutes later, they called back for my fiancé (his last name was just a bit after my maiden name alphabetically). We let our answering machine have the pleasure of taking that call.

The thing is, I might have been willing to send a small donation their way each year, had that one call not left such a bad taste in my mouth.

[christiangirl]

I do not regularly donate to my alma mater because I am just as poor of a student as I was when I left. Okay, I'm in a better situation but still not enough where I have a ton left over. I have donated to the scholarship fund a couple of times but not yet regularly. When I am in a better financial state, I full intend to be more financially supportive. However, I keep in contact with my old psychology department and, when I'm in town, I always stop by, speak to classes about what grad school is like, and give out my contact info in case the students have questions about what life is like on the other side. I have also supported productions from the English department since I was an English minor. I am more than happy to give back in that way because of how much my undergrad gave to me.

My previous graduate institution is a whole different story. I wouldn't give them a quarter if they needed to make a phone call. Unless I need a transcript, I usually deny I ever went there.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I have a collegiate license plate which helps out with undergrad.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by Always AlphaGam

I regularly make donations to my high school alma mater and Alpha Gamma Delta because they really changed my life. When the collegians from my chapter have philanthropy events I also don't mind donating case of water or some snacks here and there. It's not much, and whenever I get the SOS email I don't hesitate at all.

I donate to the Foundation because they gave me a SIS grant when I was on a medical and getting only 50% of my pay (after two weeks of no pay at all). I'm determined to at least pay back what they gave me and hopefully a lot more over the years.

[moe.ron]

They haven't approved changing "The Classroom Building" into "moe.ron hall", so no money from me.

[SWTXBelle]

No.
I do have a collegiate plate, but will not be donating to my alma mater. They changed the name over the protestations of alumnae because of the athletic department. They tried to mollify us by stating that the name change would be paid for by donations - couldn't those donations go to scholarships instead of changing all the signage? They GUTTED the philosophy department, as in reduced all faculty to part-time. They are investing millions in improvements to the football stadium - the one they can't fill now. They messed around with my daughter Gypsyboot's financial aid - no. I will not be donating any time soon. Luckily they don't need my money because OBVIOUSLY they are rolling in it or surely they wouldn't be spending so much on athletics.

[PhoenixAzul]

I have (small) automatic donations that go to my undergraduate every month. It isn't a lot, but it goes to the annual fund. I don't think I will ever have a building named after me, but someone has to buy the toilet paper, light bulbs, etc. I received generous merit scholarships and other financial need, and I am so proud of everything my college has achieved in recent years. I get a little testy when I still get calls asking me to donate (I already AM donating!) but I generally just don't pick up the phone.

I don't donate to my graduate school as regularly for a number of reasons. 1) Different currency. 2) Lack of funding for students from Non-EU countries left a really bitter taste in my mouth. 3) They receive generous government support. If/when I do donate, I make sure that those funds are for international student support and/or North American alumni group events. I love my graduate school, but I don't see them as being as "needy" as my small liberal arts undergrad.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

I donate to both (undergraduate and graduate). I attended public universities in CA and AZ, and received an excellent education. While I'm not a "heavy hitter" (no buildings will ever be named after me), it does give me a sense of quiet pride and satisfaction to be able to specify that my donations are to be applied to a specific department.

Same here -- well, except for the CA and AZ part. I received great educations at a great value, and I graduated without any debt. (Thanks, mom and dad!!!) I specify which funds I want my donations to go to. I've given to special campaigns as well and have served in alumni positions (and will ditto what AXiDTrish said).

[33girl]

I stopped donating when the previous presidents went about passively-aggressively decimating the Greek system. The threatening to expel students who belonged to a recognized-by-nationals-but-not-the-school fraternity was the topper.

If the new prez gets her shit together and shows that she's interested in something more than how many new buildings they can get on campus - like maybe recruiting students who don't want to go home every weekend - I'll consider it.

[KSUViolet06]

No, but it's because I'm currently working on a 3rd degree from there.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Do you mind if I ask why (in a purely curious and non-combative way)? Do you mean to your chapter, or the sorority at large? I ask because I think your organization is doing a lot of great things right now.

Either one. I actually haven't been that impressed with what my sorority's been doing lately; in fact, I hear about great programming from some of the other NPC groups and I'm not quite sure what's going on out there. Also, when I reached out several times to volunteer, I didn't receive a response. There are other things, that may seem petty that I won't get into.

It's funny to me how many people are saying that they don't want the money that they donate to their alma mater to go to Sports, Facilities, etc. You can direct where you want your donations to go...usually it's a button on the donation website but even if you write a check you list the specific department in the "Memo" line. Most of my money goes to the Annual Fund, but I also donate to very specific things like the minority student orientation or my department. Or...gasp! The Sports Foundation. Because of our specific issue, some of our sports programs are woefully underfunded.

My parents also donate to my undergrad (until recently, they were donating more than I did). They know how happy my experience made me--then and now, and the tax break doesn't hurt either. My undergrad is #2 in non-alumni parent giving behind Duke so they're not the only ones.